Transcript

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>> I'm the happiest man around.>> Jubilation for some in Freetown on Thursday after opposition candidate Julius Maada Bio was elected President of Sierra Leone. His swearing in ceremony took place at a hotel in the capital just hours after the results were announced.>> The people of this great nation have voted for a change in the new direction.

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APPLAUSE

>> And a new direction is needed. The impoverished West African state is still reeling from the Ebola epidemic and a recent slump in commodity prices.>>

INAUDIBL

]>> Maada Bio briefly ruled Sierra Leone in 1996 after leading in military code.

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MUSIC]

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>> His supporters believed, he's the man to move the country forward.>> He is the only person that can unite this country. He has said that he will do it. I trust him and I believe him.>> But not everyone is united. Maada Bio's victory in this tense, but mostly peaceful poll was a narrow one.

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He secured around 52%, compared with 48% for rival, Samura Kamara. On Thursday Kamara said, he would launch a legal challenge to the outcome of the election which he claimed was marred by fraud.>> We implore all our numerous supporters to remain calm and maintain the peace while we pursue these legal measures.

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>> And this was the scene on the street near the headquarters of Maada Bio Sierra Leone Peoples Party. This Kamara supporter says, they are being cheated and won't accept the results.